WA pass/Cutthroat area fire closures

James Maltman wrote: What do people think chances of the liberty bell group being open by the weekend are?

The blue lake trailhead and almost all other closures are now open (and kind of busy). There are no current signs of the Cutthroat Fire, though they are still fighting/monitoring that fire. However, the Twisp river fire got worse last night and the smoke is blowing over the valley to the south east of the pass. Clear visibility at the moment but seems to be getting worse. 

The area is now open however there is another fire to keep an eye on in the area: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6…

This fire is now considered 100% contained.

“Closures remain in effect on the following trails:
Cutthroat Lake Trail #483 and trailhead are closed
Pacific Crest Trail #2000 is closed from Rainy Pass to Snowy Lakes
Road #400 to Cutthroat Lake Trailhead is closed

Closures will be reassessed on a daily basis.“

The above info is correct as of now. I'll try to share the latest to this thread. Hopeful for a complete reopening by the weekend, but we're good to go on all the main climbing areas at WA Pass except Cutthroat Wall for now. Smoke from the Gilbert Fire is staying east today, but things could change quickly, as it's fairly close to WA Pass as the crow flies.

Smoke from yesterday's 4400 acre growth in the Gilbert fire on Crescent Mountain. Looking towards Washington Pass from Winthrop. Most of the smoke is in the Twisp area today.

I have some international visitors curious about current conditions/closures of both Washington Pass and Leavenworth (snow creek wall) for the next few days if anybody has any information. Thank you! 

Snow Creek Wall: No smoke but toe blistering hot.

WA Pass: Throat burning smoke but pleasant temps.

Pick your poison. 

Jplotz wrote: Snow Creek Wall: No smoke but toe blistering hot.

WA Pass: Throat burning smoke but pleasant temps.

Pick your poison. 

As in you were in WApass yesterday and you burned your throat? Or are you making an assumption 

Jplotz wrote: Snow Creek Wall: No smoke but toe blistering hot.

WA Pass: Throat burning smoke but pleasant temps.

Pick your poison. 

Thank you! 

Parker Kempf wrote:

As in you were in WApass yesterday and you burned your throat? Or are you making an assumption 

Yeah. Just talking completely out my ass. That's why I respond to MP posts. 

It was clear on Friday at wa pass, but Smokey Sunday- depends on which way the wind blows from the fire up Twisp River rd.

Leavenworth is Smokey this morning.

We tried WA Pass on Sunday, turned around short of Winthrop with irritated lungs and headaches, and drove back to Leavenworth for some pleasant cragging at pearly gates. 

I am the international visitor about to leave for Leavenworth. Does anyone know if the alpine climbing in the area is affected by the smoke?

Jplotz wrote: We tried WA Pass on Sunday, turned around short of Winthrop with irritated lungs and headaches, and drove back to Leavenworth for some pleasant cragging at pearly gates. 

Yeah, better leave the alpine climbing to the hardmen ;)

Andreas Dill wrote: I am the international visitor about to leave for Leavenworth. Does anyone know if the alpine climbing in the area is affected by the smoke?

I left too early to see into the mountains this morning, but it’s probably good to go. There’s is a new fire near Leavenworth so conditions may change.

It was bluebird up at the pass till late in the day today.  All the smoke from the Crescent fire must of been blowing east?It started to creep in around 6 but wasn’t that bad.  Down in the valley is a whole different story.  Pretty gross in Winthrop at the moment.

one of the things i find interesting about the WA pass area is that it seems like the predominant wind direction changes pretty dramatically.  my wife and i climbed a peak in the general area last thursday evening and bivied on top.  early in the evening it was fairly clear on the peak, but you could see haze/smoke near the new fire (probably 20-ish miles away).  in the middle of the night we were totally surrounded by thick smoke with just an occulus of open sky above us.  then, at about 5:30 in the morning, the smoke around us was gone again.

Hey everyone, any updates on the smoke? I was planning on heading to Mt Goode in the next few days but I see that the Crescent Mountain Fire is in the neighborhood and it's projected to get worse.

Smoke at WA pass was probably a 6/10 yesterday for a good part of the day and the worst its been in the last few.  Generally the middle of the day has been ok with the most smoke in mornings and evenings.  The farther you head west from WA pass conditions seem to improve rapidly.

checked the Methow valley and leavenworth webcams and the smoke and haze looks pretty bad in both places, but not even close to as bad as last year.